Frontline health workers in Papua New Guinea are expected to be able to start receiving a Covid-19 vaccination by around this weekend.
PNG Pandemic Response Controller, David Manning Photo: EMTV
The National Pandemic Response Controller David Manning said eight thousand doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine sent by Australia were due to arrive in PNG late Monday.
They are to be offered first to PNG's health workers at the vanguard of treating an increasing number of covid cases.
The number of confirmed cases of the coronavirus in PNG climbed by hundreds at the weekend to 3,359. The official death toll is 36 but health authorities fear the real number could be far higher.
With the case numbers increasing rapidly this month, Manning has urged all frontline workers to get vaccinated.
"Whilst it's not compulsory, but if presented with the opportunity it is advised that those in the frontline, especially our frontline health workers, both public and private, consider being vaccinated."
Asked about reluctance of some healthworkers to get the jab, Manning said it would be in the nation's interests for them to get vaccinated.
"If it does come to a critical point where health workers opt not to take the vaccination, there are considerable risks not only to themselves, but to the rest of the country's population. Essentially what that means is that we won't have a health service to look after us."
Manning said all indications were that the vaccine rollout will commence this weekend or next Monday.
Meanwhile, a nationwide isolation strategy commenced on Monday in Papua New Guinea in a bid to stop the spread of Covid-19.
All but two of PNG's 22 provinces have registered confirmed cases of the virus.
Under the isolation strategy, movement of people between villages and districts is restricted, while mask use in public venues is mandatory.
Manning said that as well as mask-use, people must wash their hands frequently and maintain social distancing in public.